Has anyone seen this?

[designblade]

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/2681209/This-is-the-pic-that-saved-Rafa.html

I Haven't seen this picture before so I thought I'd post it here.

The picture is pretty funny and as much as I like him this picture epitomizes Warnock for me!

 

[Linz]

Image and article copied for the clickless...

(Some people can't access other sites from work, so it's always handy if you C&P stuff for the benefit of them )

RAFA BENITEZ escaped virtually scot-free from an FA rap - after using a picture of Neil Warnock in his defence.

Liverpool's boss was warned over his future conduct for taking glasses out of his pocket to suggest referee Phil Dowd needed them when the official turned down a penalty against Spurs.

But Benitez was neither fined nor ordered to pay costs because he showed Crystal Palace boss Warnock had done the same thing and was not even charged.

Warnock made a glasses shape with his fingers after ref Rob Shoebridge denied Palace a goal at Bristol City on the same weekend - despite Freddie Sears' shot clearly crossing the line.

Benitez, 49, may also have benefited from the fact that former England manager Graham Taylor was part of the tribunal team sitting in judgment.

Taylor was infamously recorded during a TV documentary berating a linesman in a vital World Cup qualifier against Holland, telling him the referee had just cost him his job.

Benitez was cleared of misconduct on two counts over comments he made about Dowd's inability to award Liverpool a second spot-kick on top of the one Steven Gerrard converted during the Merseysiders' 2-1 defeat at White Hart Lane on the opening day of the season back in August.

The statistics backed up Benitez that Dowd had never awarded an away team two penalties in any game since Benitez joined Liverpool.

The panel was clearly sympathetic towards the Anfield chief and, in summing up, said: "Mr Benitez took his glasses out of his pocket in a gesture which had no malicious intent."

Benitez was given only a warning on the basis of his unblemished record and that the gesture was "humorous."

Referring to Warnock the tribunal summary added: "There is also the unexplained failure of the FA to charge another manager who made a gesture of a similar type which was objectively more serious."

Graham Bean of Football Factors, who defended Benitez, said: "The manner in which this charge was brought shows that the only people in football who don't seem to have a sense of humour are those in the compliance unit at the FA.

"This case should never have been brought before a panel."

Benitez is set to snub Borussia Moenchengladbach's loan bid for Daniel Agger.

The Danish defender has yet to play for the Kop this term because of a back injury.

But he faced Sweden on Saturday and with Liverpool's rocky defence under the spotlight Benitez is sure to ignore any approach from the Germans.

 

[jodman]

Good old Neil

 

[Kenilworth]

The difference is that Palace had a perfectly good goal disallowed and Koeman should not even have been on the pitch after a blatant professional foul which should have resulted in a red. Rafa should have been caned over this to have any consistency. Both Warnock and Taylor had completely legitimate complaints.

I'll wager that Warnock would have been in deep doo-doo if it were not for the fact that everyone in the ground could see it was a perfectly good goal apart from the two officials involved, who had "Wenger Specs" on at the time.

 

[Ollessendro]

The FA would call that bringing the game into disripute ..... I call it brilliant!?

As Kenilworth says Warnock and Taylor both had legitimate excuses to be irrate. The goal not being allowed was farcical. The Koeman incident was simply awful. Just another shocking decision by the officials in a crucial game for England. Still makes my blood boil that incident. Taylor was right to say what he said to the linesman!!

 

[Mousey]

The difference is that Palace had a perfectly good goal disallowed and Koeman should not even have been on the pitch after a blatant professional foul which should have resulted in a red. Rafa should have been caned over this to have any consistency. Both Warnock and Taylor had completely legitimate complaints.

I'll wager that Warnock would have been in deep doo-doo if it were not for the fact that everyone in the ground could see it was a perfectly good goal apart from the two officials involved, who had "Wenger Specs" on at the time.

The problem is you cannot question or abuse the officials decision whether it is correct or not.

 

[Kenilworth]

The problem is you cannot question or abuse the officials decision whether it is correct or not.

Agree about the abuse element but you can seek clarification about decisions.
Taylor's comments sould not be construed as abuse but I guess NWs actions could be - but I still cannot blame him for doing it. Still doesn't make either decision correct or just - nor should it be blandly accepted that people can make such decisions without having accountability afterwards. Refs have a very difficult task, I sometimes ref Youth level games so I know - do I take it that you referee games?

 

[Jon Bon]

Brilliant! Good old Sir Neil. Not seen that before.

 

[SheepdipBlade]

nor should it be blandly accepted that people can make such decisions without having accountability afterwards.

And there lies the problem with the "Respect" agenda. How can players, managers and fans be expected to respect referees and their decisions if they never (rarely?) have the decency to publically state where they made mistakes and apologise for doing so?

I wouldn't repect a colleague who behaved in this manner - why should I respect a ref?

 

[Mousey]

Agree about the abuse element but you can seek clarification about decisions.
Taylor's comments sould not be construed as abuse but I guess NWs actions could be - but I still cannot blame him for doing it. Still doesn't make either decision correct or just - nor should it be blandly accepted that people can make such decisions without having accountability afterwards. Refs have a very difficult task, I sometimes ref Youth level games so I know - do I take it that you referee games?

Nah I'm not a referee but I do just shut up and get on no matter what the decision when I'm playing.

I don't think Rafa's "abuse" was bad at all to be honest. If he's shown the referee a pair of glasses to demonstrate his opinion on the matter then that's what the game should be about. He hasn't made any rude gestures as far as I know or used abusive language.

 

[Bramley]

Neil Warnock...God.

 

[Compound_Legend]

"Come on ref,come and play at bein' a spitfire pilot...."

 

[raul]

Neil Warnock...God he made a mess of it in the Prem.

Ooh, careful Bramley, blue touch paper well and truly lit.

 

[Blade]

I think it's stupid it got as far as it did but to try and compare the two incidents is very wrong for one main reason for me...

Warnock's gesture was in the heat of the moment during a game after the officials single handedly ruined the game, cost palace points and really pissed off thousands of paying fans. The inability to notice the goal between them was absolutely ridiculous. In this case I would feel confident defending warnock all the way.

Benitez made his arsey gesture during a press conference after the game in a totally diferent situation where you know 100% that what you say and how you say is being scrutinised and people are looking for your reflections on the game. I think the gesture was stupid and unnecessary, he should have just said what was on his mind or not said anything.